Agree with the comments on the pod, but I don't understand why not enough discussion is had about mindset. It was briefly mentioned in the Instant reaction pod when the discussion turned to our skipper and his indifferent form. Now, I am not a trained psychologist but I do understand that in order to perform at your best a persons bio biorhythms, need to be at a certain level. I can see that in a classroom on a daily basis and I often wonder how hard it is for Sam and the coaches to come to terms with this with their lists of 48 or so players between the ages of 19 to 35 .
Success comes from blood, sweat, tears and hard work, but even that does not guarantee success unless the biorhythms are in the sweet -spot. It was mentioned in the pod that players who thrive in games to fly and take high marks never go into the pack wondering what would happen if they don't take the mark. No, they go into the contest thinking that they will take the mark. Now, I cut Sic some slack here as not only has he had these two bad injuries but he has also seen his space in the back half get smaller with the introduction of Barrass and Battle. He is our captain, all All Australian last year, missed the goal that would have put the team into a prelim final, coming off injuries, and now in poor form and still trying to establish the synergy with the new inclusions, I can understand if his biorhythms are not are the highest level.
We are a young side, I believe the average age is 23. They are being trained to be professional footballers in cut-throat market. Their football life expectancy is on average 10 years. Apart from putting on the footy boots and playing the game that they love, there is a hell of a lot more about life that they are going to have to come to terms with and still play high level football. So, what has all of this got to do with the game against Freo on Saturday Night?
When Freo kicked their second goal after about two minutes of play, I turned to the group I was with and said that we were in trouble. I wasn't confident at the quarter time either even though we were 13 point up. It was a classic case of which side wanted to win and which side hoped to win. I think that the way the boys played the final quarter it was clear which side wanted to win...and they did.
Yes, football is played above the shoulders and Saturday nights game was a classic example of who had the most to lose and I am pretty sure that message was made loud and clear at three quarter time. Our boys need to learn from the experience.
Apart from Bulldogs and North game ... we have not played consistently over 4 quarters this year and never well for a sustained period.
We are 6th and have not improved on last year.
Playing Jiath and McKenzie instead of Scrimshaw and starting McGuiness was selection errors.
This year we are a level below the best teams ... need to focus on making the 8 and building some belief going to September, playing Adelaide, Woods and Lions on the run home means we are a chance to come the dreaded ninth, although believe 7th or 8th looms more likely result.
Lewis, Butler and Scrimshaw to replace Chol, McKenzie and Jiath this week.
Will Day's return turn us around? Not sure really as midfield is so inconsistent this year, we got smashed in the last qtr versus Freo.
For me its Scrimma to come in for CJ. Yes we could play him as sub for next week.
I thought Frenchie just looked a little indecisive. So its review the tapes and tell him to trust his gut. When he has trusted himself he has looked good.
Either rest big Mab's or play at Box Hill for Lewis.
I thought Sicily was better than 1st week back and its a case of backing our Captain. Think he has enough runs on the board.
People need to remember we are a young side that is coming and just needs to keep learning from our mistakes.
Keep working hard boys. Playing in the West is certainly a tough ask and the crowd were very noisy last night and a tough night being a supporter in amongst them but we are on the right path.
Was totally down on the train ride home but then I saw our next fixtures and thought gee Port next week. Don't think our lads need any motivation to stick it to Hinkley and his mob and then the baggers.
Totally agree that if we cant win the next two then we don't deserve finals this year.
Couple of early midfield draft picks that are class in the draft and another pre-season into our boys and bring on 2026.
Still have high hopes that if Day and Weddle return before the end of the year and we are top 8 that we will worry a few sides in 2025
H. Morrison - 6/10. Okay game, laid 8 tackles (none in the last qtr) was a contributor.
J. Newcombe - 6.5/10. Tried valiantly and was typically solid although but only 3 possessions in last quarter.
J. Impey. 7/10. Gave us some good run, was solid.
J. Worpel. 6/10. Much better game, was solid but didn’t dominate at any stage.
J. Sicily. 6/10. Not the Sic we know. More settled after a few clanger kicks in first qrt, might take a few more weeks to hit his best but was ok.
C. Jiath. 4/10. A poor game, had a few bad turnovers, will be lucky to keep his spot.
K. Amon. 8/10. Very good. Would have been smashed without his poise and run.
C. Nash. 6/10. Solid, tried hard, but only two disposals in last quarter.
D. Moore 6/10. 9 of his 17 disposals came in last qrt, not much influence in rest of the game but one of the few who lifted in the last quarter.
B. Hardwick. 6/10 Was his usually hard at it self, okay game
M. D’Ambrosio. 6/10 20 disposals but only 2 in last qrt, gave us some good defensive exits.
L. Meek. 8/10 Battled gamely all night. Can hold his head high. 13 tackles., 4 clearances.
M. Chol 4/10. What can you say? Another big game where he goes missing. 7 possessions and no presence or physicality. At least his 3 tackles were in the last qrt.
J. Gunston. 6/10. Gave a leading option on a tough night.
F. Maginess 6/10. Good mark and goal, did his job as the sub
J.Battle 6.5 /10. Solid.
J. Ward. 6/10. Was okay but down a bit the last few weeks. Did some nice things.
C. Mackenzie. 4/10. Was poor, always getting caught, needs to get his mojo back in VFL.
C. McDonald. 6/10. Was okay, great goal, always a threat.
J. Ginnivan 8/10. 27 disposals, was very good. Great workrate. Didn’t see much of it in last qrt but ball wasn’t forward a lot.
N. Watson. 6/10. Not a lot of possessions but tried hard, and always a threat. He really needs to be told to stop trying to have his head knocked off to win free kicks. Bad look, bad for him, and umps are onto it.
C. Dear 7.5/10. All class. Great return. Just love his follow-up work.
T. Barass. 6/10 Solid, took some good marks, but made to look a bit lumbering at times.
It’s hard not to love CJ but he can’t hold a tackle. I no longer think he’s in our best 22. Scrimshaw needs to come back and if not give Serong his chance unless they’ve already decided he’s a trade.
We just stopped running in the last quarter and Meek was ultimately overwhelmed by playing 2 v 1. Was dropping Ramsden a mistake?
Treacy, Amiss and Voss, plus throw in Jackson as Freo's tall forwards were all contributors, either marking or creating loose balls for their smalls. It's a forward line that knows their role in the side.
The Hawks had to scrap for most of their goals and as the players tired the game opened up to Freo's benefit.
Chol just doesn't perform at the required level consistently enough. He is like a Rolls Royce which only performs on occasions. His finals performance last year was embarrassing! Ramsden was the missing support in the ruck and plays the hybrid forward role well. He is in form and was dropped. Ramsden moves well around the ground and contests well. It is like the selection panel are scared to take risks and reward games on past performances.
We desperately need a line breaking midfielder over the off season to compliment Day. Throw the kitchen sink at Harley Reid please 🙏
Agee,some strange selection & sub calls AND why isn’t Finn tagging anymore. Doesn’t have to be for the whole game. Was so good at it in 2024, oppo coaches were whinging about him and Sam had to defend the tactic. We are boring without Day & Weddle.
Agree with the comments on the pod, but I don't understand why not enough discussion is had about mindset. It was briefly mentioned in the Instant reaction pod when the discussion turned to our skipper and his indifferent form. Now, I am not a trained psychologist but I do understand that in order to perform at your best a persons bio biorhythms, need to be at a certain level. I can see that in a classroom on a daily basis and I often wonder how hard it is for Sam and the coaches to come to terms with this with their lists of 48 or so players between the ages of 19 to 35 .
Success comes from blood, sweat, tears and hard work, but even that does not guarantee success unless the biorhythms are in the sweet -spot. It was mentioned in the pod that players who thrive in games to fly and take high marks never go into the pack wondering what would happen if they don't take the mark. No, they go into the contest thinking that they will take the mark. Now, I cut Sic some slack here as not only has he had these two bad injuries but he has also seen his space in the back half get smaller with the introduction of Barrass and Battle. He is our captain, all All Australian last year, missed the goal that would have put the team into a prelim final, coming off injuries, and now in poor form and still trying to establish the synergy with the new inclusions, I can understand if his biorhythms are not are the highest level.
We are a young side, I believe the average age is 23. They are being trained to be professional footballers in cut-throat market. Their football life expectancy is on average 10 years. Apart from putting on the footy boots and playing the game that they love, there is a hell of a lot more about life that they are going to have to come to terms with and still play high level football. So, what has all of this got to do with the game against Freo on Saturday Night?
When Freo kicked their second goal after about two minutes of play, I turned to the group I was with and said that we were in trouble. I wasn't confident at the quarter time either even though we were 13 point up. It was a classic case of which side wanted to win and which side hoped to win. I think that the way the boys played the final quarter it was clear which side wanted to win...and they did.
Yes, football is played above the shoulders and Saturday nights game was a classic example of who had the most to lose and I am pretty sure that message was made loud and clear at three quarter time. Our boys need to learn from the experience.
Go Hawks!
Apart from Bulldogs and North game ... we have not played consistently over 4 quarters this year and never well for a sustained period.
We are 6th and have not improved on last year.
Playing Jiath and McKenzie instead of Scrimshaw and starting McGuiness was selection errors.
This year we are a level below the best teams ... need to focus on making the 8 and building some belief going to September, playing Adelaide, Woods and Lions on the run home means we are a chance to come the dreaded ninth, although believe 7th or 8th looms more likely result.
Lewis, Butler and Scrimshaw to replace Chol, McKenzie and Jiath this week.
Will Day's return turn us around? Not sure really as midfield is so inconsistent this year, we got smashed in the last qtr versus Freo.
Agree with most of your thoughts.
For me its Scrimma to come in for CJ. Yes we could play him as sub for next week.
I thought Frenchie just looked a little indecisive. So its review the tapes and tell him to trust his gut. When he has trusted himself he has looked good.
Either rest big Mab's or play at Box Hill for Lewis.
I thought Sicily was better than 1st week back and its a case of backing our Captain. Think he has enough runs on the board.
People need to remember we are a young side that is coming and just needs to keep learning from our mistakes.
Keep working hard boys. Playing in the West is certainly a tough ask and the crowd were very noisy last night and a tough night being a supporter in amongst them but we are on the right path.
Was totally down on the train ride home but then I saw our next fixtures and thought gee Port next week. Don't think our lads need any motivation to stick it to Hinkley and his mob and then the baggers.
Totally agree that if we cant win the next two then we don't deserve finals this year.
Couple of early midfield draft picks that are class in the draft and another pre-season into our boys and bring on 2026.
Still have high hopes that if Day and Weddle return before the end of the year and we are top 8 that we will worry a few sides in 2025
Freo V Hawks 12th July. Player ratings.
H. Morrison - 6/10. Okay game, laid 8 tackles (none in the last qtr) was a contributor.
J. Newcombe - 6.5/10. Tried valiantly and was typically solid although but only 3 possessions in last quarter.
J. Impey. 7/10. Gave us some good run, was solid.
J. Worpel. 6/10. Much better game, was solid but didn’t dominate at any stage.
J. Sicily. 6/10. Not the Sic we know. More settled after a few clanger kicks in first qrt, might take a few more weeks to hit his best but was ok.
C. Jiath. 4/10. A poor game, had a few bad turnovers, will be lucky to keep his spot.
K. Amon. 8/10. Very good. Would have been smashed without his poise and run.
C. Nash. 6/10. Solid, tried hard, but only two disposals in last quarter.
D. Moore 6/10. 9 of his 17 disposals came in last qrt, not much influence in rest of the game but one of the few who lifted in the last quarter.
B. Hardwick. 6/10 Was his usually hard at it self, okay game
M. D’Ambrosio. 6/10 20 disposals but only 2 in last qrt, gave us some good defensive exits.
L. Meek. 8/10 Battled gamely all night. Can hold his head high. 13 tackles., 4 clearances.
M. Chol 4/10. What can you say? Another big game where he goes missing. 7 possessions and no presence or physicality. At least his 3 tackles were in the last qrt.
J. Gunston. 6/10. Gave a leading option on a tough night.
F. Maginess 6/10. Good mark and goal, did his job as the sub
J.Battle 6.5 /10. Solid.
J. Ward. 6/10. Was okay but down a bit the last few weeks. Did some nice things.
C. Mackenzie. 4/10. Was poor, always getting caught, needs to get his mojo back in VFL.
C. McDonald. 6/10. Was okay, great goal, always a threat.
J. Ginnivan 8/10. 27 disposals, was very good. Great workrate. Didn’t see much of it in last qrt but ball wasn’t forward a lot.
N. Watson. 6/10. Not a lot of possessions but tried hard, and always a threat. He really needs to be told to stop trying to have his head knocked off to win free kicks. Bad look, bad for him, and umps are onto it.
C. Dear 7.5/10. All class. Great return. Just love his follow-up work.
T. Barass. 6/10 Solid, took some good marks, but made to look a bit lumbering at times.
This is our issue GDK ... we are looking a 6 out of 10 team based on performance.
Need to be 7.5+ consistently for the top 4. Need to change things up to see if we can trick shot our way into finals and a decent run.
Frustrating part is we have the cattle but the performances have been mainly missing this year.
Pretty fair assessment
It’s hard not to love CJ but he can’t hold a tackle. I no longer think he’s in our best 22. Scrimshaw needs to come back and if not give Serong his chance unless they’ve already decided he’s a trade.
We just stopped running in the last quarter and Meek was ultimately overwhelmed by playing 2 v 1. Was dropping Ramsden a mistake?
All I can say is, Lost opportunity.
We had a chance to finish the round in top 4 and blew it.
I can't see Geelong losing another game now.
And it's looking like Adelaide is firmly entrenched in there.
Oh well, on to next week and hopefully a win against Port in Launceston 🤎💛
Treacy, Amiss and Voss, plus throw in Jackson as Freo's tall forwards were all contributors, either marking or creating loose balls for their smalls. It's a forward line that knows their role in the side.
The Hawks had to scrap for most of their goals and as the players tired the game opened up to Freo's benefit.
Chol just doesn't perform at the required level consistently enough. He is like a Rolls Royce which only performs on occasions. His finals performance last year was embarrassing! Ramsden was the missing support in the ruck and plays the hybrid forward role well. He is in form and was dropped. Ramsden moves well around the ground and contests well. It is like the selection panel are scared to take risks and reward games on past performances.
We desperately need a line breaking midfielder over the off season to compliment Day. Throw the kitchen sink at Harley Reid please 🙏
Agee,some strange selection & sub calls AND why isn’t Finn tagging anymore. Doesn’t have to be for the whole game. Was so good at it in 2024, oppo coaches were whinging about him and Sam had to defend the tactic. We are boring without Day & Weddle.
And once again, subbed off a contributor .. and ffs what’s with these umpiring calls 🤬😳
Who in the side has actually improved from last year?
Meek, Ward, Gunston… hard to find anyone else
The majority of the list seems to have stagnated
Ginni has added to his game. Does some really cleaver things.